Our neighborhood bully

Every day now, he comes marching into the yard just like he owns the place. He’s a big, tough guy with a clipped ear, which proves he’s feral but has been fixed — thank goodness! But “fixing” hasn’t done much to fix his personality. He’s still just as mean as can be and my gentle-natured outdoor kitties absolutely hate his aggressive and anti-social behavior.

Mr. Bully, then, is the new problem on the block. Where he came from, I’m not quite sure. He seems determined to stick around, however, much to my dismay and the total displeasure of the cats who consider this yard their haven and exclusive territory.

Bully Boy shows up at feeding time. Of course. I put down a dish of food for him because I am kind hearted. Right? This feline doesn’t show any signs of appreciation, though. Instead, he gobbles up what is his and then, hissing and mer-owing and growling in a most menacing manner, he moves on to the other dishes that don’t belong to him, shoving their furry owners out of the way.

What to do about him? I honestly don’t know. I don’t want to see him go hungry. I would never dream of resorting to bullying him myself. So, to date I am simply putting out food for him and trying to put the other cats’ dishes in a different area on the patio — as far away from him as possible. Then I stand guard until everyone has had a chance to eat. Bully, naturally, tries to discourage me from doing this; we do a kind of dance — me blocking his path, him moving elsewhere, me blocking his path, him moving elsewhere, etc. He’s intent on getting to the other cats’ dishes and I’m intent on stopping him. My cats watch this “dance” with interest. Who wins the dancing contest is who wears out first. And, yes, it’s usually me.

Thus, Mr. Bully makes his move on the rest of the food. My kitties go off into the garden to lick their paws and play a waiting game. I collapse from all the “dancing.” Finally, this neighborhood tyrant who loves to swipe at anything and all, decides he has made his statement and leaves. We breathe a collective sigh of relief, my cats and I. Then I go back into the house and come out with more dishes and more cans of food — plus treats. After such an assault on their territory, my felines deserve something special.

Trouble is, Mr. Bully is getting on to the treat thing. I caught him hiding behind the garbage can this morning, waiting for me to get back on the computer and out of sight so he could steal the goodies right from under my kitties’ cute pink noses.

He’s a bad one, this fellow. And persistent. But I am just as determined to overcome because he is handsome, occasionally will allow petting and probably owes his nasty disposition to an unfortunate kittenhood when he had to fight for every morsel. I keep hoping that maybe with time and patience he will modify his mean behavior and even harmoniously blend into the group.

Do you think it’s possible, feline fans? Have any of you ever had a big, bad bully of a cat complicating life either outdoors or inside the house? We could use some advice about our neighborhood tyrant.